More potholes than parish pumps at council meeting

More potholes than parish pumps at council meeting


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Áine Ryan

FORGET the Parish Pump, here in Mayo it is Pothole Politics that rules the roost. Mention of the word and Fine Gael’s Cllr Johnny O’Malley is immediately in need of a cold shower. And … yes… his colourful remarks over the years in Westport council chamber would lead one to believe that the potholes, particularly in the Kilmeena area, are as big as Olympic swimming pools.
Even though council officials confirmed to him at last week’s electoral area meeting that 95 per cent of the craters on the boreens and byways of the area had been filled since the Arctic spell at Christmas created havoc, he remained relentless.
Cllr O‘Malley questioned the economic rationale of road workers filling the majority of potholes in a rural area but, due to an overtime ban, stopping before the job was complete and later having to return on another day.
“It is not acceptable that 50 yards of a road is left unfinished because the shift is over and these workers have to return again to a job ten miles away,” Cllr O[Malley argued.
However, County Engineer, Joe Beirne argued that there was no money in the coffers for overtime but he was willing to discuss flexible working days with the unions.
Concurring, Cllr Peter Flynn observed that a key plank of the Croke Park agreement was flexibility by union members.
“There has to be a sense of reality among the union representatives. Nobody is enjoying the downturn, whether they are in the public or private sector,” Cllr Flynn said.
Council engineer, Ger Reidy suggested that if the councillors allocated their Notice of Motion monies the roads could be completed.
Both Flynn and Chairman, Cllr Austin Francis O’Malley quickly quipped that they had allocated all their funds. That just left Cllr John O’Malley blushing. No nearby potholes outside the council chamber for him to hide in.